Chicago aldermen approve Emanuel's G-8, NATO protest crackdown

The Chicago City Council today easily approved measures to tighten parade rules, increase fines and give Mayor Rahm Emanuel power to spend money on a pair of May summits of world leaders.

Dozens of protesters concerned about what they say are the mayor’s attempts to muzzle free speech stood outside council chambers during the debate shouting “now let us in” and “we vote no.”

Aldermen, satisfied by Emanuel backing down on aspects of the plan for the G-8and NATO meetings, voted 45-4 to approve the parade crackdown. Earlier, aldermen voted 41-5 to give Emanuel blanket spending authority.

Emanuel's plans to deal with the protesters has faced a wave of criticism from aldermen concerned that the new rules would only antagonize protesters.

Ald. Leslie Hairston, 5th, who voted against a series of changes to the city’s parade ordinance, she said the city has to be careful how it regulates and potentially inhibits a spontaneous assembly.

“I still have concerns about freedom of expression and civil liberties,” Hairston said. “These are subjective, people can be (punished) for expressing themselves.”

Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, praised the mayor for scaling back his original proposal and said that the debate about the changes led to “overheated rhetoric and over-the-top hyperbole.”

“The challenge for us as lawmakers is to strike a balance,” between enforcing the law and giving people the ability to “redress grievances,” Moore said.

The mayor had proposed doubling the maximum fine for resisting arrest to $1,000. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy offered a substitute ordinance at a City Council hearing Tuesday that keeps the fine for resisting or obstructing a police officer at a range of $25 to $500.

"You listen to people and you hear them, that doesn't mean you don't make alterations," Emanuel said Tuesday. "I haven't changed the objective."

The goal, Emanuel said, is to host world leaders, give people the ability to express their views and enforce the law.

Other restrictions that were approved include opening public parks and beaches at 6 a.m., two hours later than currently allowed. Loud noise, amplified sound and music at parades would be allowed only between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Emanuel also had agreed to reduce fines or otherwise revise proposed changes to the city's rules on public demonstrations. Protest and civil liberties groups expressed concern that the changes — which would cover all future public demonstrations — were too severe.